Stuffed Pork Chops With Sausage And Apricots Recipes

CRANBERRY-APRICOT STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Put the dried fruit in a small bowl. Pour 1/4 cup boiling water over the fruit and set aside for 10 minutes to soften. Drain, reserve the soaking water. In a mini-processor process the fruit with the nuts, butter, fennel and half the shallot until finely chopped. Season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a small sealable plastic bag or pastry bag. Snip about a 1/2-inch opening in the corner of the plastic bag. With a small paring knife, make a pocket starting from rounded side of each chop. Set the tip of the bag inside the pocket and press a quarter of the stuffing into the chop. Repeat with the remaining chops and filling. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Pat the chops dry and season with salt and pepper. In a large saute pan, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Brown one side of the chops, until well browned about 5 minutes. Use tongs to hold the chops and sear the edges of the chops. Turn and brown the other sides of the chops, about 2 minutes. Transfer the chops to a baking sheet and bake until an instant read thermometer inserted into the center of the chops registers 135 degrees F, about 15 minutes. While the chops are in the oven make the sauce. Drain the oil from the saute pan. Off the heat, add the Calvados and the remaining shallots. Return the pan to the heat, taking care since the alcohol may flambe, and cook over high heat until the alcohol is reduced by half and is slightly syrupy. Add the broth and the fruit soaking liquid and boil down until the liquid is reduce by about a third. Add the cream and continue to simmer until it thickens slightly. Whisk in the mustard. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add any juices that have accumulated on the baking sheet to the sauce. Divide the chops among 4 warm plates or a large platter. Pour on the sauce and serve.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE STUFFED PORK CHOP

Steps:

• Stuffing: In large a rondeau or heavy bottomed pot over medium-low heat, add butter and olive oil, then sweat onion, celery and garlic until translucent, about 3 minutes. Add sausage, and allow it to cook through, stirring often. Add spinach and toasted croutons. Mix well then add chicken stock, cream and parsley. Cook until thickens. Add cheese and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper. Allow stuffing to cool.
• Pork Chops: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Make a 1-inch incision with a knife right next to the bone of the pork chop. Work the knife inside the pork chop to make a pocket for the stuffing. With a piping tool or simply with your hands, stuff the pork chop with the stuffing mixture until the pocket is packed well. Season the pork chop with salt and black pepper. Heat a large skillet and add oil. Sear both sides, about 1 minute. Place skillet in oven to roast for about 10 to 12 minutes, turning chops over half way through so as not to burn. Cook pork chop to medium, and the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer. Anything more than medium may dry out the chop.

"STUFFED" PORK CHOPS WITH SAUSAGE AND APRICOTS

Steps:

• Preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
• Season chops with salt and pepper. Add 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil to hot skillet then add the chops and sear to caramelize the meat on each side, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer chops to a pan or casserole dish and add 1/2 cup chicken stock to help the meat remain moist while it finishes cooking ¿ just eyeball the amount. Loosely cover the dish or pan with foil before placing in the oven. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes as you make the stuffing.
• Return pan to the stove and add another tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil. Add Italian sausage and crumble it as it browns. Add celery and onions and cook 2 or 3 minutes then add red bell pepper and apricots. Cook 2 minutes, then add parsley and sage and another 1/2 cup of chicken stock. Reduce heat and cook stuffing 5 or 6 minutes longer until apricots are tender and plump. Add a splash of chicken stock and 1/4 cup heavy cream to moisten stuffing.
• To serve, remove chops from oven. Place 4 chops on individual plates or on a platter. Mound sausage and vegetables on first chop, then top with second chop and pour gravy down over the top of stacked chops and filling. The pan drippings may also be added to the gravy to stretch the amount.

"STUFFED" PORK CHOPS WITH SAUSAGE AND APRICOTS

Steps:

• Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
• Season the chops with salt and pepper. Add 2 tablespoons of the EVOO to the hot skillet, then add the chops to sear and caramelize the meat on each side, a minute or two. Transfer the chops to a pan or casserole dish and add about 1/2 cup of the chicken stock to help the meat remain moist while it finishes cooking-just eyeball the amount. Loosely cover the dish or pan with foil before placing in the oven.
• Start the Sautéed Yellow Squash, page 146, then move back to the stuffing in this recipe.
• Return the skillet to the stove and add the remaining tablespoon of EVOO. Add the sausage and crumble it as it browns. Add the celery and onion and cook for 2 or 3 minutes, then add the bell pepper and apricots. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the parsley and sage and another 1/2 cup chicken broth. Reduce the heat and cook the stuffing for 5 or 6 minutes longer, until the apricots are tender and plump. Remove the stuffing to a small bowl, scraping the pan free of as much food as possible, then return the same skillet to moderate heat. Add the butter to the skillet. When the butter melts, add the flour and whisk. Cook the flour with the butter for 1 minute, then add the remaining cup of broth. Bring both to a bubble, then stir in the heavy cream-eyeball it. Bring the gravy to a bubble. Add a pinch of nutmeg and black pepper and simmer for 5 minutes to thicken a bit.
• To serve, remove the chops from oven. Place 4 chops on individual plates or on a platter. Mound the sausage and vegetables on the chops, then top each with a second chop and pour gravy down over the top of stacked chops and stuffing. The pan drippings may also be added to the gravy to stretch the amount.

APRICOT-STUFFED PORK CHOPS

Steps:

• Cut pocket in each chop (or have it done by the butcher), cutting from fat side almost to bone edge. Season cavity with a little salt and pepper.
• Drain apricots, reserving 1/2 cup syrup.
• Place 2 apricot halves in pocket of each chop. Secure opening with toothpicks which have been soaked in water.
• Refrigerate chops until ready to cook.
• Chop remaining apricots; set aside.
• In a small saucepan, saute onions in oil over medium heat until onions are translucent.
• Add reserved chopped apricots, apricot syrup, ketchup, dry mustard, and salt and pepper to taste.
• Bring to a boil then reduce heat and simmer for about 10 minutes.
• Grill chops over medium coals 35 minutes, turning once.
• Brush sauce over chops while they are grilling.
• Serve remaining sauce with meal.

STUFFED PORK CHOPS WITH APRICOT GLAZE

Steps:

• For glaze, combine honey and Dijon mustard in a small saucepan.
• Stir in apricot preserves and vinegar.
• Heat and stir mixture until preserves is melted.
• Remove from heat and set aside.
• For stuffing, In a saucepan, add chicken broth, green onions and ginger.
• Bring to a boil and add the acini de pepe.
• Cook, uncovered for about 8 minutes or until pasta is tender.
• (you may need to add a little more broth).
• Remove from heat.
• Fold in apricots, 2 TB of the honey glaze and the celery.
• Cut a pocket in each pork chop
• Spoon about 3 TB stuffing into each chop.
• Fasten pockets with toothpicks.
• Spoon remaining stuffing onto a large sheet of heavy-duty aluminum foil.
• Fold securely, leaving space for steam to build.
• Set aside.
• In a covered grill, place chops on a hot grill off to the side, NOT directly over the coals.
• Cover and grill for approximately 25 minutes, basting often with honey glaze, turning chops after about 10 minutes.
• Place foil packets of stuffing on grill next to the chops but not over the coals and grill along with the chops. Pork chops should have an internal temperature of the 145 degrees.